Box-fastener.



No. sa2,||7. 1 Patented Sept. 3, I901.

T. E. SAYBE. I

BOX FASTENER.

(Application filed Nov. 10, 1900.) (N0 Model.)

wih v 0722415 Sayre. 1592:9101- UNITED STATES PATENT EErcE.

THOMAS EPHRIAM SAYRE, OF BELOIT, WISCONSIN.

BOX-FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 682,1 17, dated September 3, 1901.

Application filed November 10. 1900. Serial No. 36,082. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS EPHRIAM SAYRE, acitizen of the United States, residing at Beloit, in the county of Rock and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Box-Lid Fastening, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to box-fasteners of that class embodying sliding bolts and the object thereof is to provide a guard or supplementary fastening for the bolt, whereby accidental releasing thereof is obviated.

The invention is especially designed for application to the construction shown in my former patent, No. 605,919, dated June 22, 1898.

To this end the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a box-cover having my invention applied-to the fastening thereof. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view on the line mm, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the springgnard plate. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional View taken through an end of the guard-plate and the contiguous foot of the cap.

Corresponding and like parts are designated by similar reference numerals in all the fig ures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, z

square or other polygonal shape in cross-section.

A plurality of radial locking-bolts 8 are each pivotally connected at one end to the flange of the tumbler 4 and having its opposite free end adapted to engage the body of the box to hold the cover thereon. Each of these bolts has a pivot 9 at its inner end and at approximately right angles to the bolt, preferably formed by bending or deflecting the same, as shown. The pivot ends of the bolts are bolts 8.

loosely fitted in openings 10, respectively, formed in the flange of the tumbler 4, and their opposite ends are pointed, as at 11, which pass through openings 12, provided through the flange 2. The tumbler and bolts thus connected together are held in place by means of a cap 12, having substantially L-shaped attaching-feet l3 and a central frusto-conical bearing-lug 14, which is provided at its upper end with a pin 15. This cap is connected to the under side of the cover by means of suitable fastenings passing through the feet 13 and is positioned directly beneath the tumbler 4, being of a size to entirely cover the tumbler and the adjacent ends of the sliding It will be noted that the lug l4 fits within the bore of the tumbler, forming a bearing therefor and holding the same in place.

To operate the device, a key 16 is provided having a polygonal head 17 of the same crosssectional shape as and adapted to be fitted into the bore of the tumbler 4, whereby the latter may beturned, as will be understood. The head of the key is provided with a central longitudinal opening 18, which is adapted to receive the pin 15 on the ing of the cap 12, whereby a solid key or piece of metal cannot be used to turn thetumbler. By turning the tumbler, as heretofore described, the bolts are simultaneously operated to slide either back or forth and the points 11 are adapted to be forced into the inner sides of the box, whereby the cover is held in place.

The construction and arrangement heretofore described are substantially that of my former patent. Fasteners constructed in accordance therewith frequently become loosened by rough handling in shipping, &c., and therefore I have designed a guard to prevent accidental loosening of the bolts. To carry out this design, I provide a spring-guard plate 19, which is adapted to engage one of the sliding bolts. This plate, as shown in Fig. 3, is formed from a flat strap of metal bent into an approximately U shape, the bend thereof being twisted upward, as at 20, to form a spring-tongue, which is provided with a notch or seat 21 in the upper edge thereof. Each end of the guard is provided with an opening 22 and is fitted between the body of the cover 1 and one of the feet of the cap 12. The respective fastenings which connect the cap to the cover also pass through the openings in the guard, whereby the latter is substantially for the guard against movement thereof in opposite directions.

In the operation of the device the tumbler 4 is turned by means of the key until the bolts have reached the limit of their radial movement. As shown in Fig. 1, the cap 12 is arranged so that each bolt strikes one of the feet to stop the lateral movement of the innerend thereof, whereby the bolts are an tomatically stopped at the proper point in their movement. The engagement of the bolts with the legs of the cap thus guards against accidental movement in one direction to prevent the free ends of the bolts from becoming disengaged from the box, and it is the design of the spring-guard 19 to prevent movement in the opposite direction. The unlocked position of the bolt 8 is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 out of engagement with the guard 19, and as the tumbler is turned the inner end portion of the bolt will travel laterally over the twisted 0r deflected portion 4 20 of the guard until it is seated in the notch 21. When the bolt 8 travels over the guard, the spring-tongue 20 will be pressed upwardly thereby, and upon reaching the notch 21 the bolt will be seated therein and be held by the spring action of the tongue. When the bolt is seated in the notch, it is effectually held against accidental lateral movement in either direction and can be disengaged by direct intent and use of the key only. One edge of the spring-tongue 20 is smoothed or flattened, as at 24, to permit of the bolt being easily moved thereover in the operation of the device.

In order that the bolts may be limited in their lateral movement by the feet of the cap, the opposite pairs of feet are not alined transversely of the cover, as will be apparent from Fig, 1, and therefore one side or leg of the guard17 is longer than the other side, so that they may each engage its respective foot. The guard is positioned to bring the notch 21 in line with the limit of the lateral movement of the bolt 8 to hold the same in its locked position. Guards may be provided for each bolt; but one is usually sufficient, as the looking of one bolt also looks the others. The guard thus provided affords a simple and effective means for locking the bolts against accidental displacement, and it is to be understood that changes in the form, proportion, and minor details in the construction and arrangement thereofv may be made without departing from the spirit and scope or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Havingv thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. A box-lid fastener, comprising a longitudinally-slidable and laterally-movable bolt, means for operating the same, and a springguard located intermediate of the opposite ends and transversely of the bolt, in frictional engagement therewith, and provided with a bolt-receiving notch located at one limit of the lateral movement thereof.

2. The combination with a box-fastener or the like, comprising a tumbler, sliding radial bolts carried by the tumbler and a cap having feet, of an approximately U shaped guard adapted to engage one of the bolts and hold it in its locked position, a pair of the feet of the cap being fitted against the respective sides of the guard, and the fastenings of the feet also passing through the sides of the guard to mount the latter upon the cover, substantially as shown and described.

3. A box-lid fastener, comprising a longitudinally-slidable and laterally-movable bolt, means for operating the same, and a substantially U-shaped guard, the opposite sides of which form attaching-legs and lie at opposite .sides of the bolt, thet-ransverse intermediate portion of the guard being deflected laterally and formed into a spring tongue which is angularly related with respect to the body of the guard and lies in frictional engagement. with the bolt, the tongue having a bolt-receiving notch located at the lateral limit of the bolt when it is locked.

t. A box-lid fastener, comprising a longitudinally-slidable and laterally-movable locking-bolt, an actuating pivotal tumbler con nected to the inner end of the bolt, and a bowed spring-guard located in the path of the lateral movement of the bolt, and provided with a notch which is arranged to frictionally embrace the bolt in its locked position.

5. The combination with a box-lid having an opening therein, of a tumbler pivotally mounted upon the inner side of the lid and accessible' through the opening therein, a longitudinallyslidable and laterally-movable locking-bolt having its inner end pivotally connected to the tumbler, and a substantially U-shaped spring-guard secured to 'the inner side of the lid, and having its bowed portion deflected and disposed in the path of the lateral movement of the bolt, the outer edge of the deflected portion having a notch formed therein and frictionally embracing the boltin its locked position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS EPHRIAM SAYRE.

Witnesses: I

GILES Dow, ROBE Dow, J r. 

